Me looking like a noob at Letna Park, Prague looking stunning as always
A GUIDE TO PRAGUE
Hello dear readers! How are you all? What a whirlwind of a week it's been. I don't know about you, but it's only now, on this slightly moody but gloriously peaceful Sunday evening, that I finally feel as though my feet have touched the floor. Everything has been a bit manic, also very awesome, and time and the world I'm living in now doesn't really seem to be making much sense anymore. But that's okay. It's alright. As you may know, I went to the magical city of Prague last Friday for a few days with my ma (oi oi). When I got back home, I had volunteering at the Stroke Association, which I adore doing and would highly recommend, and I also spent a fabulous evening drinking cheap cocktail pitchers at Spoons with my oldest friend. I've also been on a last minute family break to our new favourite country Wales (we just can't get enough of that scenery) for a couple of days, then there was that fandango with the EU referendum, Glasto's been on and it's been absolutely wicked as always (raving for Adele, Fatboy Slim, TLSP, Madness, The 1975, and of course Muse), and finally today I had training for an amazing volunteering opportunity I'm lucky enough to be helping with for a week next month. So ya know, luvin' lyf 2k16 but also looking forward to having the chance to be a lazy bum.
But enough about me. Now it's all about Prague, that wonderful city in the beautiful Czech Republic which I'd love to talk to you some more about. As I previously mentioned, I was lucky enough to go last Friday with my ma. I had wanted to go to Prague for a couple of years previously. It just looked so magical and like a fairytale on Tumblr, but I kept forgetting to do anything about it. It was only on the night of Eurovision that I ended up talking to a guy from Prague, and it completely re-ignited my desire to go. His passion and adoration for his home city was infectious, and talking to this guy also happened to coincide with a moment when I was off on another Miss Independent hype. I had chalked up quite a bit in savings from my Bluboca store. I wanted to travel and see new parts of the world. I wanted to spend proper good quality time with myself. I wanted to get out of the UK for a little while. I wanted to spend time doing things I enjoy. I wanted to do something for me. I was feeling impulsive and a little bit reckless, and I was simply in the mood to just live. So I decided I would make my dream a reality. I would just go ahead and do it, instead of waiting around till another place, another time. I would use those savings, proudly and patiently accumulated over the last three years, to do something that was special and meaningful for me.
My ma ended up coming along for the ride after I mentioned to her that I was going to go to Prague the following month, whether she wanted me to go or not. Although she's just about fine with me doing my whole Miss Independent thing here in the UK, naturally she was a bit iffy about me taking it overseas. So after a bit of discussion, and as it turns out my ma had been harbouring a secret desire to go to Prague too, we decided to be travel buddies and plan a last minute adventure to Prague. The long and short of it all, dear readers, is that Prague really is quite something and if you're uming and ahing like we were, stop. Go book a flight and get yourself over there ASAP. You. Will. Not. Regret. It. Prague is a city made of dreams and beauty and magic. It's like walking around in a fairytale kingdom and it's all so surreal that it almost feels more like fantasy than reality. I've been lucky enough to go to some really amazing places over the last few years, but Prague stole my heart as soon I lay my eyes on it. I've officially crowned it my second favourite European city, just behind Copenhagen (check out my city guides here and here!). Prague, and the Czech Republic in general, are a must see for everybody. The beer lovers, the food lovers, the romantics, the energetic, the crooners, the explorers, the dreamers, the cynical, the disillusioned. Prague has the ability to capture the hearts of everyone that greets her.
So with that, let me tell you some more useful information about this gorgeous Eastern European city, to help you plan your future trip to this dream city. And don't worry dear readers, we'll get you luvin' lyf 2k16 in no time.
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AHOY PRAGUE!
FLIGHTS & GETTING
INTO THE CITY
Do it cheap via Easy Jet, Ryan Air or Jet2. We used Jet2 and our flights
cost just under £120 return, which isn’t too bad considering we booked a month before we
went! We flew from East Midlands, which took around 2 hours. We managed to get a 8:50am flight out on the
Friday morning and a 7:20pm flight back on the Monday night, meaning we managed
to essentially enjoyed four full days in Prague.
To get from the main city to the airport is very, very easy, and typically takes around 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. All you have to do is head to terminal 1 and to the outside bus rank. Use
the orange machines to buy a 32 CZK ticket for you and a 16 CZK ticket for your
luggage (one of the machines by the 119 bus stop takes card, the others are all
coins!). Then, depending on where you’re staying in the city, take the 119 bus
if you’re to the east and the 100 if you’re towards the west. Once you get on
the bus, make sure to stamp your ticket in the little orange cubes you’ll see
upon entry to the bus or metro. Your ticket will last you 90 minutes and is
valid on any mode of transport in central Prague. If you’re on the 119, go all
the way to Nadrazi Veleslavin, from which you take Metro line A to your nearest
stop, or on the 100, go to Zlicin and take Metro line B. There is also a Metro
line C which you may need to use too.
HOW LONG TO GO FOR
We went for four days, three nights, and that was more than enough time to see all the main sights as well as explore the lesser known parts too. If you’re just going to Prague, a long weekend like we did is a perfect amount of time. If you’re planning to visit neighbouring Hungary or Vienna, again 3-4 days is just about right. If you want to stay in the Czech Republic a bit longer, I’d recommend heading out of Prague to nearby towns and regions like Karlovy Vary, Bohemia and Kutna Hora, all easily accessible by train or bus from Prague.
WHEN TO GO
ANY TIME OF YEAR!!! This city is like a supermodel. It’s
beautiful whenever and wherever you go. In mid-June we enjoyed temperatures of
20 degrees +, and a healthy mix of sunshine and rain. There was lush greenery
and beautiful blue skies, and the evening skies were mostly clear with lots of
lights everywhere, though it was a little bit chilly. Even though Prague was
gorgeous in the summer, I’d love to go back again and see it in the late autumn
and early winter, when I suspect it becomes even more magical.
WHERE TO STAY
If you’re doing it on the cheap, hostels all the way. Prague
has such a wide variety of hostels, with some being more family orientated, some
more party central, and others being perfect for old and young travellers
alike. We stayed in Post Hostel Prague, which was fantastic. The hostel was clean,
quirky and big, very near a metro stop, had incredibly lovely, friendly and
helpful staff, lots of things going on every evening and was very decently
priced, at £90 for each of us for 3 nights. However if hostels aren’t your thing, there are lots of hotels to choose
from as well. Prague is a city which has something for everybody, so make sure
to choose what’s right for you.
Additionally, don’t be put off by
location. A lot of the main attractions are towards the east side of the city,
around the River Vlata, but it is very, very easy to walk across all parts of
the city. Where we stayed was about a pleasant 40 minute walk to Charles Bridge.
However the public transport is also top notch if you fancy giving your tired
legs a break!
1st pic: A traditional Czech meal // 2nd pic: Trdelnik
FOOD & DRINK
First things first, beer is so cheap it will literally blow. your. mind. Expect to pay anything from £1-£3.00 on average for beer and cider. It's so crazy cheap. Likewise other drinks like water, soda and other forms of alcohol are also cheap too. Hot drinks can cost a little bit more, but nothing too extravagant. Obviously touristy areas will be slightly more costly, but even then it's often no more than you're paying on average back home. It goes without saying that money goes an awfully long way in Prague, meaning it's a particularly great place to go if you're a student, a little bit strapped for cash or you want to get drunk and have some fun!
As for food, for bits and bobs to get you by through the day head to your nearest supermarket. Billa is a great one for cheap hot drinks to go, fresh pastries, homemade sandwiches, fresh orange juice, bottles of water and all your essentials. It's also useful to consider going for a hostel or hotel where breakfast is included. Ice cream in Prague is cheap as chips; you can expect to pay no more than a £1. Trdelnik is apparently a traditional Czech pastry dessert (some claim otherwise), however whatever its origin, Trdelnik is everywhere and it's very, very delicious and novel and a must get during your visit. All throughout Prague are lots and lots of lovely bars, restaurants and cafes to peruse and enjoy. Bear in mind that there is no smoking ban in the Czech Republic, so there will be smoking inside! Eateries and bars near the Old Square and Charles Bridge cost more, but have a fantastic, lively atmosphere. It's definitely worth venturing down the side streets or slightly out of the more touristy parts, and finding hidden gems for yourself. Some of our favourites were the Art Cafe at Vystavni sin Manes for tea and cakes (you can sit right over the River Vlata), food markets and street food (Czech sausages are a must) that can be found on various days across the city, and Kozlovna Apropos for traditional Czech food.
During your stay, trying some traditional Czech food is a must do. Although it's very hearty and rich (think your typical English Winter menu), filled with dumplings, tender meats, mash potato, meaty gravy, goulash (often served in a bread bowl!), soups, it's incredibly tasty. However if you want to branch out, you'll find lots of other cuisines including Italian and Chinese. The great thing about the cheap prices in Prague, is that it gives you the perfect opportunity to try more extravagant and complex dishes that would normally cost more back home. I'd really urge you to make the most of it, because the most any dish will cost you is £10, and you can often get a very nice main and an alcoholic drink or pudding for £10 or less. One meal we had only cost £13 for both me and my mum to have a main Czech meal and an alcoholic drink!
THE LANGUAGE
There's no doubt that Czech is confusing to anyone who doesn't speak it. At first it's easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by the whole language in general, whether that be in its written or spoken form. However learning the basics is respectful, as are they quite easy to pick up and useful to make note of! That being said, the Czechs are incredible at English and wherever you go, there will be English translations and options, or people who speak English very well. In Prague, English tends to be the common language that people from different countries converse in, meaning you don't have to worry about the language barrier holding you back.
TRANSPORT
I'd recommend walking whenever possible, as it's the absolute best way to really discover any city. Every part of central Prague is easy to walk to, with even the longer walks being so enjoyable due to the beautiful scenery you'll pass along the way. The touristy areas, particularly those in the Old Town out towards Charles Bridge and the River Vlata, tend to link on from one another so you can see many things within one stretch. If you are going to walk, it's a big must to wear comfy, waterproof and durable shoes (trainers, Docs, boots, walking sandals etc.), and give heels a miss if you can, as almost all the pavements are cobbled! Prague is a safe city, so don't worry about walking the streets at night, though obviously try and walk with a group of people, and stick to the main roads if you're on your own or a bit worse for wear, just to be on the safe side.
If you're going to use public transport, the good news is it's safe, clean, very reliable and very cheap. Within the central Prague areas, you can pay 24 CZK (72p) for a trip on any mode of public transport that lasts 30-60 minutes, or 32K (96p) for a 90 minute trip. In the metro stations, the machines require coins, and for the trams outside tickets can be bought from kiosks and tobacco stores. It's worth bearing in mind though that the metro, though regular, isn't as regular as say London. Also try and avoid taxis where possible to avoid any confusion or rip offs, and with public transport being so cheap and fairly regular, there isn't really any need.
MONEY
Like the UK, the Czechs don't use the euro and instead have their own currency, the Czech Krona (CZK). It can seem expensive at first, however the good news is this is a myth. One CZK roughly works out as 33p, so divide every price you see by 30 and you will roughly get the pound equivalent. Regularly comparing the price in your native currency is useful to keep your spending in check, and as previously mentioned, the pound in particular goes a long way in the Czech Republic, so the good news is you don't need to convert as much money to take with you on your holiday.
If you find you need more money whilst you're out there, use trusted conversion businesses and it might be worth checking with the staff where you're staying to find the best places.
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO
There are so many things to do in Prague. and you have a good chance of squeezing everything in during your trip! However it's definitely worth jotting down your must-sees, and checking out other blogs, guidebooks, internet posts and sites to see what's on and what's out there. Below is my own must-see and must-do list for Prague. I managed to do most of the things I wanted to during my visit, although there are lots of places I wish I'd managed to visit too!:
1) Walk along Charles Bridge (apparently early in the morning is great if you want to see it when it's nice and quiet!) and explore the surrounding area that side of the city. Also try and walk across as many of the other bridges as you can, as the view is brilliant and unique from each.
2) Walk along both sides of the River Vlata. Whether in the day or the night, the views all along it are spectacular!
3) Pay a visit to Prague Castle, which you can see from most places in the city, and look inside the Cathedral at the stained glass windows, as well as checking out the amazing views at the top of the hill. Also try and view the castle from down in the city in the day, at sunset and in the evening.
4) Go to Letna Park, right by the Metronome, and have a beer from the beer tent and admire the views over the city. Although you have to walk up a hell of a lot of stairs to get to the top, the views are so worth it, and if you go at night the atmosphere is just fabulous. Lots of lights, music, people, happiness. It's particularly good if you're young and want to meet lots of other young people from other nationalities- I met some very friendly Dutch guys who pointed out where I could get the best view.
5) BOAT TRIP. ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA!!!!!!
6) Walk down from Wenceslas Square, through to the Old Square and towards Charles Bridge. Take lots of photos and soak up the atmosphere.
7) Shopping in the Palladium and surrounding areas. There are also lots of tourist shops with gorgeous souvenirs (the glass pieces, beer glasses, Russian dolls and enamel kitchenware pieces are personal favourites).
8) Do a tour. There's walking tours, segway tours, bicycle tours, free tours and paid tours, and the guides are incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
9) Visit Petrin Park Hill and go up Petrin Tower.
10) Visit Vysehrad Park and Castle and escape the bustle of the city, enjoy the historical beauty and take in the magnificent views.
12) Go to the McCafe in McDonalds (it's very fancy).
13) Walk here, there and everywhere. Go down all the pretty streets and explore all the parks that you come across on your way. It's all so beautiful.
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